Iridium Operator Information, Rates, Coverage Area

General

Iridium satellite communication operator is the world's first commercially successful mobile satellite communication network. The Iridium company started its activities back in the 80s, in partnership with Motorola, and in 1991 Iridium Inc. was founded. But officially, the Iridium website lists 2001 as the founding year.
In 1999, Iridium declared bankruptcy due to extremely low sales and unjustifiably high tariff costs, which made it impossible to talk about profitability even in the long term. Later, in 2000, Iridium Satellite acquired all assets, refused to recognize the obligations of the previous owner, and immediately signed a contract with the US Department of Defense, and later, in 2001, work with private clients resumed. Today, Iridium is a global giant in satellite communications, with more than 500,000 permanent subscribers (data from 2011) and is recognized worldwide as a leader in satellite communication services.

Satellite communication and Iridium tariffs have been duly appreciated by employees of the largest corporations in the mining, tourism, construction, maritime, land, and air sectors. By the way, the US government remains the largest user of the Iridium network. Iridium uses unique inter-satellite communication technology, which theoretically allows using only one ground gateway station to serve all subscribers — this once again demonstrates the reliability of Iridium satellite communication.
Despite all the complexity of satellite communication functioning, using a satellite phone is no more difficult than using a regular mobile device; the only difference is that using a satellite phone requires open sky, meaning it is impossible to use in basements or deep inside buildings without additional signal boosters or antennas.

Iridium satellites cover 100% of the Earth's surface, including even the polar caps, and currently this is the only satellite communication in the world with global coverage including the polar caps. This coverage was achieved thanks to 66 satellites (planning to increase the number to 77) located at an altitude of 750 km, which is several dozen times lower than Iridium's main competitor — Inmarsat. The low altitude of satellite orbits previously allowed Iridium to make the smallest satellite phone in the world. Other satellite communication operators use geostationary satellites that "hang" over the same points on Earth, or more correctly, they simply move at the same speed as the Earth rotates.

The flagship of the Iridium line is Iridium 9575 Extreme, currently the most protected satellite phone in the world, while being quite compact. In addition to phones, Iridium produces equipment for satellite communication on water, land, and in the air, and of course equipment for satellite internet and tracking. Iridium tariffs, quality equipment, and reliability proven over decades allow Iridium to firmly maintain leadership among satellite communication operators.